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Published on: August 16, 2018
Structural requirement of the calcium-channel subunit alpha2delta for gabapentin binding
M Wang1, J Offord, D L Oxender
1Department of Molecular Biology, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division of Warner-Lambert Company, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
Gabapentin binding to the alpha(2)delta subunit requires both alpha(2) and delta subunits. Specific regions within the alpha(2) subunit, particularly Arg(217), are critical for this interaction.
Area of Science:
- Neuropharmacology
- Molecular Biology
- Protein Structure-Function Analysis
Background:
- Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that binds to the alpha(2)delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels.
- Understanding the precise binding mechanism is crucial for drug development and therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural requirements for gabapentin binding to the alpha(2)delta protein.
- To identify specific regions and amino acid residues within the alpha(2) subunit essential for gabapentin interaction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized site-directed mutagenesis, including deletion and alanine-scanning mutagenesis, on porcine brain alpha(2)delta proteins.
- Assessed gabapentin binding affinity to wild-type and mutated proteins expressed in cells.
Main Results:
- Gabapentin binding requires the co-expression of both alpha(2) and delta subunits; alpha(2) alone does not bind the drug.
- Disulfide bonds between alpha(2) and delta are not essential for gabapentin binding.
- Specific regions (DeltaD, DeltaH, DeltaI) within the alpha(2) subunit are critical for binding, with Arg(217) identified as a key residue.
Conclusions:
- The alpha(2)delta complex, not individual subunits, mediates gabapentin binding.
- Regions D, H, and I of the alpha(2) subunit are vital for maintaining structural integrity for gabapentin interaction.
- Arg(217) is a critical amino acid residue for gabapentin binding to the alpha(2)delta subunit.
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